Ubuntu 12.04 vs. Windows 8: The Battle for Desktop Supremacy

Expected to be unleashed in autumn of 2012, Windows 8, Microsoft’s latest gamble in the desktop market is making millions of eyes turn even before its release. Loaded with a brand new yet somewhat contentious Metro interface, the touch-friendly desktop will not only be seen on laptops and PCs, but will also find its place in the swanky upcoming tablet computers.

That said, the main target group for Redmond would be the desktop, a field that they've been dominating for decades. Windows 8 will aim to obliterate all the competition by giving users an interface that will look and behave the same way across all devices. Sadly for them, and quite obviously too, Metro isn't the first to try out this unified concept. Our very own Ubuntu has been busy for a couple of years trying to polish Unity, its unified interface for computers, tablets, smartphones, and even TVs . Some even go as far as to say that Microsoft might have actually ‘borrowed’ that idea from its old penguinian buddy.

7 of the Best Launchers For Android

One of the biggest advantages that Android has over its universally worshipped archrival is the fact that one can customize a Droid to any extent. iOS however, though customizable via jailbreaking, is still alien to even the slightest of changes that don’t originate from its Cupertino-based HQ. The customizability and the openness of Android, though a tad bewildering at first to the cellular neophytes, have managed to give the Linux-based OS its unexpected popularity.

That said, the customizations, and sometimes, the unnecessary additions to the vanilla Android OS, has made the platform not only fragmented but also a bit bloated. The manufacturers who make these changes to bring a dash of their own ‘uniqueness’ to the open-source operating system fail to give users any freedom in the UI department.

Thankfully, though, there’s an ongoing trend of custom launchers for Android that completely change the look and functionality of your phone. A launcher is responsible for presenting the main view of the phone and for starting other apps and hosting live widgets. So, if you are looking for some great launchers to revamp your plain vanilla Droid, here’s a list of some of the best in that genre.

5 Best FTP Clients For Linux

Though Dropbox, YouSendIt and other innovative cloud services that make it easy to relay files across the World Wide Web, they’re a bit inconvenient when it comes to sharing huge amounts of data. Also, if you’re hosting a university website, it’s much easier to set up a local FTP server and share some files within your network. Thus, there’s no doubt that FTP is still relevant despite the numerous other advances in the file-transfer technologies.

Before we go deeper into FTP clients, here are some of the basic concepts that you need to know about:

What is FTP?

FTP, which stands for File Transfer Protocol is a standard for exchanging program and data files across a network. The network could be the World Wide Web or simply a local area network (LAN).

How Linux Can Bring Life To Your Old PC

Despite all the excitement that comes with buying a new computer, it is rather hard to bid adieu to the old one, even more so, if you've invested a lot of money and time in building it. That said, it’s not always the case that we have to throw the old one out of the window. If we’re a bit tech-savvy, we can utilize the outmoded personal computer as a secondary device; however, with the latest versions of Windows and Mac being incompatible with outdated computers, it’s not always possible to resuscitate a dying PC.

Don’t worry though, because this is where our friendly neighborhood Linux operating system steps in. Linux, apart from being a popular desktop and server operating system, can be used to turn a computer into a torrent downloader, firewall or a full-fledged media server. So, if you too are looking to bring your old PC to life, here are some handy tips that could help you do it with the help of Linux:

As a Firewall

If your home has more than 2 computers, it’s not too late to start thinking about your network’s security. A firewall functions like the security guard at your door by keeping a watch on everyone who goes in and out. By allowing only legitimate connections to pass through and blocking connections based on a certain set of rules, the firewall secures the network from most kinds of threats that lurk around on the Internet.

Linux can be used in this case to turn your old machine into a watchful firewall device. To do that, all you have to do is download a firewall distribution and install it. Here’s a list of the best firewall distributions to get you started: 5 Best Linux/BSD Firewall Distributions

Torrent Downloader

If you use your brand new computer mainly for your work, you might not have the time to manage all your torrent downloads. Thankfully, though, your good old PC can transform itself into a full-fledged torrent downloading machine. To get started simply download your favorite distribution, install it, and then start up your preferred bit torrent client. If you’re new to the world of torrents, we recommend you check out our earlier article (How to Use BitTorrent in Linux) wherein we've explained the basics of the file-sharing program in great detail.

File/Print Server

If you have a printer at home, it’s not a bad idea to turn your old computer into a print server. You can then use the computer to handle all your printing jobs regardless of the fact that other computers in your house are running Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Media Player/Server

If you have a lot of movies, music, and TV shows loaded on to one of your computers, and you want to share it with the rest of the family, here’s a nifty little tip for you. Use your old computer, install Linux on it, and store all your media files in there. You can then share those files with the rest of the devices in your house using a simple Linux setup.

Though you might not want to spend any more money on a dying computer, it’s not that bad an idea to invest in a hard disk with a slightly large capacity. To get started, you’ll need your favorite distribution and a small amount of free time. Once you’re set up, there’s no need for any more tinkering.

Web-browsing Kiosk

There are days when your friends pop in for a drink or two and they ask you if they could browse the net from your computer. Then suddenly the possessive, prissy devil on your shoulder comes up with some fancy excuses for not letting them do so. If you’re one of those people who value their privacy yet want to keep their friends, keeping a small web-browsing kiosk at home is not a bad idea. It doesn't matter how old a computer is, just load one of the lightweight Linux distros around and then install Chrome on it. Not only will it be easier for your insistent friends to browse the web, it will also be a useful tool that all your family members can use for browsing the web quickly.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Highly Recommended Android Apps for Bloggers/Blogging

Despite the soaring popularity of microblogging, content curation, and video logging, the good old way of publishing your thoughts on a blog hasn't really died out. Defying many predictions, blogging still rocks as it used to be about 3 or 4 years ago. An apt testament to this fact would be Mashable and TechCrunch, the two biggies in the business, which started out as modest websites and went on to become two of the most popular tech-related sites on the Internet.

Despite the multitudes of blogging services offered right now, most bloggers prefer using either WordPress or Blogger. We at TechSource prefer Google-owned Blogger; however, you’ll find many more sites relying on the open-source CMS WordPress. While it’s easy to use those two services via the web, more and more bloggers prefer updating their site on the go. This is especially true for travel bloggers and citizen journalists.

So, if you’re a travel blogger, or a tech blogger like us, we've come up with an impressive list of all the best blogging tools for your Android device. Not only will these apps help you update your blog on the go, they’ll also make it easy for you to chronicle your travel tales with a touch of a button.

Best Games For Google Plus

In our earlier posts, we've already taught you almost everything that there is to know about Google Plus. The search giant’s venture into social media has, as predicted, turned out to be quite a profitable investment. Though not a complete Facebook-killer (yet?) but it is still a platform that cannot simply be ignored. With a look slightly similar to the once popular Friendfeed, Google Plus has burst into the limelight with its simple interface, tight integration with other Google services, and lot of celebrity presence.

Coming to the inevitable comparison with the dominant Facebook, Google Plus has brought along almost all the major features the Zuckerberg-owned company has been boasting of for so long. One of the most important of these changes has been the introduction of gaming, which, Google hopes will pull more users towards its nascent social network. So, if you too have joined G+ due to the huge amount of games it provides, or if you’re just a Plussie interested in gaming, here are some of the best Google Plus games out there.

Angry Birds

Quite simply one of the most popular mobile games of all time, Angry Birds has managed to enthrall its audience across all ages. Initially available only on mobile devices, its immense popularity has made the bird-chucking adventure available across all platforms, including our beloved Google Plus.

Edgeworld

Set in year 2711, this sci-fi strategy game will keep you hooked for hours. You start off by building a base and raising your army. Once you’re strong enough to fight, you demonstrate your prowess by attacking other players’ bases. But hey, don’t jump the gun just yet, as you too may get attacked sooner or later. And remember, if the attack is heavy, you’ll have to start from scratch once that happens.

Tips: Search on YouTube for some legit tricks that’ll help you find weaknesses in opponents and farm resources. Also, try and make sure NOT to attack members of your own clan.

CityVille

CityVille is a game about creating and managing your own city. You, being the owner of the city, are responsible of growing crops, supplying goods, collecting rents, and expanding your businesses. If you get stuck, though, always feel free to ask for a little help from your friends.

Shadow Fight

If challenging your friends to a scrabble game is not your cup of tea, then perhaps it’s time for something with a little more action. Shadow Fight is an amazing game that lets you fight with your friends like a true ninja. With easy-to-learn controls and nice graphics, the game keeps you battling your friends for hours.

Crime City

Becoming a mafia without getting arrested is not that easy to achieve. However, on the Internet, anything is possible, and so it is with Crime City. In the game, you start off as a fledgling criminal who advances his or her way through the crime world by beating up people, robbing people, and doing almost anything that gets you arrested in real life. With the money that comes from these activities, you can upgrade your hood and keep increasing your income.

Bejeweled Blitz

Bejeweled Blitz is an award-winning game that gives you 60 seconds to match as many gems as possible. Though the game is quite simple, the added boosters and power-ups make it quite an addictive time-waster.

City of Wonder

While CityVille lets you create a modern bustling city without leaving the comfort of your bedroom, City of Wonder is a game that allows you to build and progress your civilization from Stone Age to the modern era.

GT Racing: Motor Academy

Crave speed? Then GT Racing is a game you’ll love to play for hours. One of the most graphically advanced games on the G+ platform, GT Racing lets you start your own racing career without leaving your house. The game includes cars from 26 different manufacturers including Nissan GT-R, Audi R8, and yes, there’s Ferrari too! Though free-to-play for all, the game has slightly higher requirements when compared to other titles in this genre. It is advised to have at least 2 GB of RAM and a video card with 512 MB memory.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Handy Uses of Raspberry Pi Linux Computer

Raspberry Pi, the $25 marvel has taken the tech community by storm. The single-board computer, developed in the UK by Raspberry Pi Foundation comes with a 700 MHz ARM processor, Videocore IV GPU, and 256 MB RAM (earlier it was 128 MB RAM). While those specs are nowhere near compared to what the latest laptops, or even the newest phones offer, it’s ridiculously low price point is what makes it so amazing. Another interesting thing about Raspberry Pi is the fact that it will come with a Linux-based operating system (like Picotux - smallest Linux computer) and will include some useful tools to help users learn programming.

The credit card-sized computer went on sale on 29th February, and immediately after the launch, their official websites crashed due to heavy traffic. Though not confirmed yet, rumors suggest that there have been over 2 million inquiries and pre-orders. As the Raspberry Pi has managed to create a much-needed disruption in the market, Linux lovers are basking in the glory of this newfound penguinian achievement. And we, Linux supporters to the very core, couldn't help but chime in and dish out our own market ideas for the low-cost prodigy.

So, if you’re as excited about it as we are, here are some of the best places where Raspberry Pi could be used:

In schools

One of the most revolutionary uses of Raspberry Pi would be in schools. With an extremely low price point, public schools as well as schools in developing countries can benefit from the new invention. Moreover, as it comes loaded with educational apps, it would be an economical as well as an effective way of introducing kids to programming.

In developing countries

The $25 price tag would make computing accessible for many people who can’t already afford to buy a computer. While the iPads and the iPhones sell like pancakes, people in developing countries struggle to even get a glimpse of what a real computer is like. To them, Raspberry Pi would be a great boon as will help them buy their first computer without burning a huge hole in their pocket.

In Internet cafes

If you’re an entrepreneur planning to start an Internet cafe in your area, you must watch out for Raspberry Pi. Not only will it save you from the huge costs of bootstrapping your business, it will also help you avoid having to deal with virus-ridden sluggish computers. That said, not all Internet cafes would be able to flaunt the mini masterpiece as some Internet users demand complimentary applications like Yahoo Messenger and Gtalk which are not available on Linux. However, a great workaround to that problem would be to introduce them to the web versions of their favorite apps.

As public computers in libraries

Notice those huge Windows-ridden computers in library? Oh, they’re so slow and sometimes filled with viruses. Raspberry Pi can serve as a great alternative to those antiques by providing efficient, basic computing that is exactly what a place like a public library needs. Furthermore, having the little device placed alongside a stack of books would be a great idea to save some space.

In government offices

Cost cutting is the buzzword recently; and, there are barely companies who don’t think of doing it. Government offices, or even private offices for that matter, spend thousands of dollars on employees’ computers thus adding to the already increasing budget. A great way to save money in this scenario would be to switch to the low-cost Raspberry Pi. Not only will it save lots of dollars, it will also make your desk a little roomier.

As a full-fledged computer

If companies like Canonical or Red Hat realize the potential of the Raspberry Pi, they could also come up with their own single-board computer. As fellow blogger Techlaze suggests: there is a huge market for Canonical in this department. A $100 or less single-board device with similar specs and a custom version Ubuntu -- using Unity 2D perhaps -- they could bring in some hard cash to Canonical’s waiting-to-be-filled coffers.

Virtualization Software For Ubuntu Linux

Earlier, people usually got tied of their computer operating systems and were not able to switch OS that easily. Now, thanks to virtualization, techno freaks like you and me can try out any operating system that suits our fancy. So, what is virtualization basically? Virtualization is, in broader terms, the creation of a virtual version of hardware and software. There are, in all, six types of virtualization; first being hardware virtualization, second is desktop virtualization, then software virtualization, followed by memory, storage, and data virtualization. The main thing we’re concerned with is hardware virtualization (also known as platform virtualization), which allows users to run an operating system on top of another one. So, if you’re running Windows XP, you’ll be able to run Ubuntu Linux on it almost as if it’s running natively.

Reasons for virtualization:

So why do you need to virtualize? Can’t you simply install a different operating system? Though distro-hoppers like us can install another operating system in a jiffy, in some cases, especially in professional environments, such changes aren't possible. Moreover, a virtual machine is easy to diagnose, easy to relocate (disaster scenario), and is always easy on the pocket. Take, for example, the case of server consolidation, wherein many small physical servers are replaced by one large physical server to save support costs and resources. Although, in this case, the hardware is consolidated, the operating systems are not. In this case virtualization software comes in handy as it can host several ‘guest’ virtual machines thereby reducing the costs of individual deployment dramatically. In the end user scenario, virtualization is used by many Linux users who want to use Windows for a specific application or for a limited amount of time.

Top Video Game Console Emulators for Android

Even though the latest Final Fantasy game comes with some stunning graphics and even more intense gameplay, it’s nowhere compared to the experience you get playing the classic Final Fantasy 7. There was something about those old games that isn't just there with the new billion dollar-earning titles like COD MW or BF3. A true gamer knows that Golden Eye 007 is the best FPS and not some terrorist-killing adventure. Anyways, if you belong to the clan of folks who think that those classic games should never be forgotten, there’s a smart little invention called console emulators. If you don’t know what an emulator is here’s the Wikipedia definition: "A video game console emulator is a program that allows a computer or modern console (cross-console emulation) to emulate a different video game console's behavior."

We've already reviewed some of the best video game console emulators for Linux. And now, since we’re in the age of portability and pocket power, we've decided to introduce you to some of the best console emulators for the Android platform. As unbelievable as it sounds, these apps actually let you revisit those classics right from your little Android device.

Note: Android Market is now Google Play, so all the links direct to the new website.

Best System Monitoring Software For Linux

Love monitoring your computer system? So do we. Geeks, nerds, and ninja coders are known to be quite obsessed about what goes on behind the scenes. Geeks usually try to make sure their computer system is working efficiently, while coders on the other hand, use system monitoring to test out the memory footprint of their newly created app. Not only does system-monitoring help you weed out the misbehaving apps, it also helps you learn more about the way your computer handles different processes.

While on Windows the traditional ‘Task Manager’ is used by millions of Redmond fans worldwide, its Linux-based counterpart, that is the ‘System Monitor’, isn't too far behind. What’s more, Linux offers its users with more spam-free, quality options to choose from in this department. So, if you’re looking for the best system monitoring software/tools for Ubuntu, or any other Linux distribution for that matter, read on as we cover the finest in the genre.

Awesome Android Smartphones Unleashed at MWC 2012

We've already covered a lot of Android phones and tablets in our gadgets section, and now, we’re going to do the same thing again; that is, to keep you abreast with all the latest that’s happening in the Droidian universe. Mobile World Congress (MWC), the coveted event for mobile enthusiasts, comes on the heels of a somewhat surprising announcement from the folks at Canonical.

Last week, if you've been following us regularly, we discussed the pros and cons of Ubuntu for Android, Canonical’s latest attempt at wowing non-Ubuntuers. The most important component of this endeavor is a high-end, dual-core Android device. In MWC 2012, there was no shortage of such devices, thus making the Ubuntu for Android booth somewhat hard to ignore.

Now, we’re not here to talk about Ubuntu, nor are we here to discuss much about the Android operating system. We’re here to showcase some of the most lust-worthy and awesome smartphones that were showcased at the event. So, if the gadget fanboy inside you is dying to check them out, here are some of the best Android smartphones announced at the Mobile World Congress 2012:

Best Podcast Software/Tools For Linux

With the advent of Internet TV and YouTube, the popularity of the traditional podcast is currently on the decline. Also, the huge fan following and dominance of iTunes and iPods has restricted the popular medium only to the classes. That said, it’s not as if podcasts are obscure; in fact, notable celebrities like Stephen Fry, Jeremy Clarkson, and Ricky Gervais have gained huge popularity through this then-evolving medium. Moreover, the vogue of this format was such that even the German Chancellor Angela Merkel once launched her own video podcasts.

Even though, now, as the medium is losing the fame that it once enjoyed, it’s not completely outmoded. In fact, there are some highly popular shows like The Linux Action Show and Linux Outlaws that still enjoy a huge fan following. So, if you’re one of those people who’re still hooked on to the medium then here’s a list of the best podcast software/tools for Linux.

gPodder Podcast Client

gPodder is a free and open-source podcast aggregator for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. It downloads and manages your audio and video content and also lets you listen to it directly without the need for any external application.

Android Remote Control Apps for Popular Linux Media Players

If you use Linux, then you must have used some of the popular media players that are out there. Rhythmbox, Banshee, Amarok, choices are aplenty in this department. What’s more, all of these players let you create your own playlists so that you can groove to your favorite tunes at a party. That said, it’s not always convenient to use the computer every time you have to listen to music. There are some days when you want to relax on your sofa and put the music on full volume.

For days like those, Windows and Mac users have plenty of remote control applications to choose from. And though, our very own Linux isn't that versatile in this department, it still offers some great choices for Android users. Thanks to the soaring popularity of Amarok, Banshee, VLC, and other popular media players for Linux, a lot of great remote-control applications have popped up in the Android marketplace. Here are some of the best ones that you ought to try out immediately.